textproduct: Albany

WHAT HAS CHANGED

Increased cloud coverage and Pops through this morning to account for lingering clouds and spotty sprinkles/flurries from lake effect.

KEY MESSAGES

1) Continued gusty winds and unseasonably chilly conditions today. A coating to a few tenths of an inch of snow are possible in the higher terrain through this morning.

2) Dry weather with temperatures moderating to near seasonable levels late Sunday into early next week.

DISCUSSION

KEY MESSAGE 1...

Main upper level trough axis will slowly move east across the region this morning. Ahead of its passage, mid level cloud shield will gradually shift southeast, exiting the region around midday. Areas of lower clouds associated with some lake moisture/effect will also persist through mid morning, especially across higher elevations of the SW Adirondacks, southern Greens and Berkshires. Spotty light sprinkles in valley areas, and sprinkles/flurries across higher elevations will also persist, especially upslope areas east of the Hudson River.

Skies will then clear out this afternoon, first in valleys and eventually across higher terrain areas. It will remain brisk today with northwest winds gusting to 25-35 mph at times, especially through this morning. Temperatures will only reach the mid/upper 40s in valley areas this afternoon, with mainly 30s for higher terrain areas. Combined with the brisk wind, wind chill ("Feels-Like") temps will mainly be in the 30s in valleys, and 20s across higher elevations.

Clear skies and diminishing wind tonight amid a dry airmass should allow temps to drop into the 20s for most areas, with a few teens possible across the southern Adirondacks.

KEY MESSAGE 2...

High pressure should keep dry conditions across the region through midweek, with temps gradually moderating closer to seasonable levels, with daytime highs the upper 50s/lower 60s in most areas. Nighttime lows will still be chilly given the potential for good radiational cooling, with lows mainly in the 20s and 30s through midweek.

AVIATION /12Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Through 12Z/Sunday, generally VFR conditions are expected despite occasional Cigs of 3500-5000 FT AGL, which may linger through 17Z/Sat. Skies should become mostly clear by late afternoon which will then continue tonight.

Northwest winds will remain elevated and gusty through early afternoon, with speeds of 8-15 KT and gusts up to around 25 KT. Winds will remain northwest but decrease to 5-10 KT toward sunset, and will become light/variable to calm toward and after midnight.

Outlook...

Saturday Night to Wednesday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX.

ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CT...None. NY...None. MA...None. VT...None.